little bits and fond farewells
Monday, June 25, 2012 at 8:00AM Danny has been making frequent trips out of town lately, and I feel like we’ve been saying goodbye a lot. Even if it’s only for a short period of time, goodbyes just aren’t easy with the ones we love.
I try to make a game of his departures by making a mental list of all the things I’d like to accomplish before he gets back. Things I might not otherwise have time for, things that are strictly me-time oriented and things I know I will feel better for having done. It’s important to remember how much fun you can have on your own, after all the greatest relationship you will ever have is the one you have with yourself.
Sometimes departures come at unexpected moments, or in the midst of hectic workweeks when we have no choice but to hand them out with an air of professionalism – carrying on about our business with the quiet distance hanging around the edges of the day.
Then there are the times when we’re able to create an opportunity out of a farewell.
The night before a recent early morning flight, I set up a little date night. I bought some grouper and a salmon steak (Danny’s favorite) to grill, and set up a fort for us to watch our favorite shows in after dinner. I was worried that the fish wouldn't cook up right, but everything turned out just right. From good dinner conversation, we dove into a place separate from the adult realities of tomorrow and fell into a deep sleep before the end of one episode amid draped cotton sheets and twinkling lights.
Creating a bright spot in an otherwise sullen event is a wonderful way to shake off the glum feelings associated with a goodbye. It feels good to know, as you busy yourself throughout the week, that you’ve got this great little piece of time you can hold onto.
Here’s a little glimpse into our night.
*I created the fort from a broom balanced over fan blades by a rope. While I must admit this was an act of highly effective ingenuity on my part, I cannot promote this as a safe practice. Attempt at your own risk!
Do you have a goodbye tradition?
Reader Comments (1)
Any guy that gets to say goodbye to you just to see you again is the luckiest guy in the world.